Siuc first in state to implement on the public health degree

SIUC has newly adopted a new public health master’s degree program in community health education, making it the first university in the state to offer such a degree.

The new program makes SIUC one of 17 universities, without Schools of Public Health, offering an accredited master’s program.

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David Birch, department chair of Health Education and Recreation, said discussion to bring the program to SIUC began in 2001. The department faculty unanimously voted to develop the program in 2002.

Bart Hammig, assistant professor of health education, said the first thing on the department’s agenda is to become accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health.

To become accredited, the program will undergo evaluations, and the council will visit the campus to make sure the program is following its standards. Birch said it is important for the University to become accredited, both for graduates seeking jobs and for recruiting prospective students.

“As far as community health education, the MPH is a degree with more prestige,” Birch said. “And it opens more employment opportunities for our graduates.”

He also said the master’s of science degree is still in place but is for students interested in school health education.

“Now our master’s degree will have two main focal points,” Birch said. “Either school health education-and students will get in the MS program-or community health education-and students will go in the MPH program.”

Amy Wright, who was previously pursuing her master’s in health education, is excited at the opportunity to transfer into the new community health program when she returns in the spring.

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Wright, a school health coordinator for community benefits department at Southern Illinois Healthcare, wants to continue living in this area and said she believes a master’s degree in Community Health Education will allow her a broader range of job opportunities here.

“I felt like with my job now, the public health degree would be more fitting,” Wright said.

Keith Hillkirk, dean of College of Education and Human Services, said he is pleased that students in health education now have a choice.

“If they wish to teach health education, they can purse the master’s in health education,” said Hillkirk. “If they are more interested in working for health agencies and pursing a career in health policy, they can pursue the master’s of public health.”